Brexit: Causes, Economic Impacts, and Global Consequences
This paper examines the United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union following the June 2016 referendum, in which 51.9% of voters chose to exit. It explores the historical roots of British ambivalence toward EU membership, the demographic patterns behind the Leave vote, and the structure and purpose of the EU as a supranational body. The paper then assesses the anticipated economic consequences of Brexit for the global economy, including increased transaction costs, reduced labor efficiency, threats to Scottish unity within the UK, and the operational burdens faced by US and multinational corporations operating across the UK-EU divide.
- Introduction: 2016 referendum result and Brexit overview
- Why the UK Voted to Leave the EU: Historical skepticism and Leave voter demographics
- What Is the European Union?: EU structure, origins, and mandate
- Impacts of Brexit on the Global Economy: Trade costs, labor efficiency, and Scottish secession risk
- Effects on US Corporations: Operational and tax burdens for American multinationals
- Timeline and Transition Period: March 2019 deadline and regulatory unknowns
✍️ How to write this paper — guide, tools & examples ▾
What makes this paper effective
- The paper moves logically from historical context to immediate causes to downstream economic consequences, giving readers a clear causal chain from the referendum result to global effects.
- It situates Brexit within longer patterns of British skepticism toward European integration, using concrete examples such as the UK's non-adoption of the euro and its non-participation in the Schengen Zone.
- The discussion of US corporations provides a practical, business-focused angle that grounds abstract trade theory in real organizational consequences.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates multi-level analysis — moving from domestic political causes, to supranational institutional context, to global economic effects. This layered approach allows the writer to address a complex policy event at several scales without losing argumentative focus.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens with the referendum result and its immediate political framing, then unpacks the historical and demographic reasons behind the Leave vote. A definitional section on the EU provides institutional context before the paper shifts to economic consequences at the global, regional, and corporate levels. It closes with a brief discussion of the transition timeline and remaining uncertainties. Six sections in total, each building on the previous one.
Introduction
On June 23, 2016, a referendum was held in the United Kingdom in which voters were asked to decide between remaining in the European Union or leaving it. The vote was close — 51.9% voted to leave and 48.1% voted to stay, with a turnout of 71.8% (Hunt & Wheeler, 2018). The terms of the vote stipulated that the UK was to leave the EU by March 29, 2019, and at the time of writing the country was in a transition period leading up to what became known as "Brexit."
References
Hunt, A. & Wheeler, B. (2018). Brexit: All you need to know about the UK leaving the EU. BBC News. Retrieved April 12, 2018 from http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-32810887
McGill, A. (2016). Who voted for Brexit? The Atlantic. Retrieved April 12, 2018 from https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2016/06/brexit-vote-statistics-united-kingdom-european-union/488780/
Musaddique, S. (2017). Cost of Brexit: The impact on business and the economy in 2017 and beyond. The Independent. Retrieved April 12, 2018 from https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/brexit-economy-sterling-currency-investment-cost-impact-business-financial-banks-insurance-retail-a7695486.html
O'Leary, E. (2017). Scottish independence case helped by Brexit chaos. Reuters. Retrieved April 12, 2018 from https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-eu-scotland/scottish-independence-case-helped-by-brexit-chaos-sturgeon-idUSKBN1CD0B2
Wilson, S. (2014). Britain and the EU: A long and rocky relationship. BBC. Retrieved April 12, 2018 from http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-26515129
Already a member? Log in
Unlock the rest of this paper
135,000+ research papers · AI writing tools · Plagiarism & AI detection
7-Day Pass
Does not renew
Get 7-Day PassMonthly
Renews at $12.99/month until canceled
Start MonthlyAnnual
Renews at $99/year until canceled
Start Annual- Unlimited AI writing tools
- Plagiarism and AI text detection tool
Plan details
Unlimited AI writing tools are for individual, non-automated use and are subject to our Terms of Service and abuse-prevention measures.
TextChecker scans: 3 during the 7-Day Pass, or 5 per month with Monthly and Annual.
Prices exclude applicable tax.
Always verify citation format against your institution’s current style guide requirements.